Draft gear



Nov. 20, 1934.

E. P. KINNE ET AL DRAFT GEAR.

. MN, 1% Mn wm 4w. e m Ev WE Q m 8 5 Filed Dec.

Nov. 20, 1934. E. P. KINNE ET AL DRAFT GEAR Filed Dec.

a er:

E. P. KINNE El AL DRAFT GEAR Nqv. 20, 1934.

' Filed Dec. 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 20, 1934 DRAFT GEAR Edmund P. Kinne and Frank H. Kayler, Alliance, Ohio, assignors to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 24, 1931, Serial No. 582,910

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to draft appliances, and more in particular to draft gears associated therewith. Y 1

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a draft appliance in which means is provided for effecting differential movement of the coupler thereof during the transmission of draft and buffing forces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a draft appliance wherein the draft gear elements operate to effect a given movement of the coupler during the transmission of buffing forces, and wherein only certain of these draft gear elements act for resisting movement of the coupler during the transmission of draft forces.

The present invention comprehends the idea of providing a novel draft appliance including a draft gear formed with friction members adapted to cooperate for resisting movement of the coupler thereof during the transmission of buffing forces, while only certain of these friction elements or members are adapted to act or cooperate for resisting the movement of the coupler during the transmission of draft forces.

More particularly, the invention contemplates an arrangement wherein the movement of the coupler in buff is substantially twice the movement of the same during draft. The movement of the coupler during the transmission of draft forces in the present construction is decreased, while the movement of this coupler during the transmission of bufling forces is increased as compared to the present standard practice.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a draft appliance in which the movement of the coupler is increased during the transmission of bufiing forces, and a greater space of time is consumed in absorbing the shock and overcoming the inertia of the car.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel draft appliance, including a friction draft gear of the selective travel type, conforming substantially to the standard A. R. A. construction of a draft appliance with a minimum of change.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a draft appliance wherein the draft gear is of simple and sturdy construction and in which suitable means is provided for adjusting this draft gear to compensate for wear, thereby prolonging the usefulness of the draft gear.

Another object within the purview of the present invention is to provide a draft appliance having or including a friction draft gear of the selective travel type in which the various elements are conveniently located and accessible for inspection without dismantling or dropping the draft gear.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates the idea of providing a draft gear of the friction type wherein the resilient means or spring associated with the friction members extends downwardly into a position so that the same may be conveniently examined, repaired or replaced without necessitating the dismantling of the active gear. I

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts-- 5 t Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan View of a draft appliance made in accordance with the present invention and having parts thereof shown in cross section to disclose more in detail the novel features thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by line 2-2 of Figure 1 of the drawings;

Figure 3 is a view in cross section taken in a plane represented by line 33 of Figure 2 of the drawings;

Figure 4 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented by line 4-4 of Figure 2 of the drawings;

Figure 5 is a view in cross section taken in the plane represented by line 5-5 of Figure 2 of the drawings;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 1 of the drawings and disclosing the parts of. the draft appliance in full pulling position;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to Figure 2 of thedrawings and disclosing the various parts of the appliance in full pulling position; 100

Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view similar to that shown in Figure 6 of the drawings with the various parts of the appliance in full buffing position; and

Figure 9 is a vertical cross sectional view simi- 105 lar to that shown in Figure I of the drawings and disclosing the various parts in full buffing position.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, an embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shown as including center draft sills 2 and 4 of any desired construction and which are suitably secured to the car body. Forwardly of these center draft sills 2 and. 4 and suitably secured to their outer ends, is a striking casting 6 adapted to support a wear plate 8 for a coupler stem 10, this striking casting being secured in any desired manner to the sills 2 and 4. Adjacent the striking casting 6 are cheek plates 12 and 14, each of which extends rearwardly of the coupler 10 and is secured in any suitable manner to the center draft sills 2 and 4.

Each of the draft sills 2 and 4 is provided with slots 16 adapted to receive laterally projecting parts or portions 18 of the cheek plates 12 and 14 conforming with the edges or walls thereof for providing a snug fit between the cheeks of the striking casting and the center sills 2 and 4 and reinforcing the slotted sills at these particular points.

. Between thedraft sills 2 and 4 is a yoke 22 of the horizontal or Farlow type which is limited in its rearward movement by engagement with a back stop casting 24 of any desired construction and which extends between and is suitably connected to the draft sills 2 and 4.

The coupler stem 10 is provided with a transversely disposed slot 26 adjacent its rear end, through which projects a key member 28 which likewise passes through slots or openings 30 oppositely disposed and provided in the straps 82 and 34 of the horizontal yoke 22, this key member 28 providing a connection whereby the coupler stem and coupler may have relative movement of translation with the yoke 22, as likewise relative angular movement therewith. Ihe key member 28 extends beyond the straps 32 and 34 of the yoke and is supported upon the cheek plates 12 and 14 by the flanges 36 and 38 defining the slots'provided therein for the movement of this key member 28.

In the present embodiment, a draft gear is provided wherein all of the elements thereof act to resist movement of the coupler stem 10 for the transmission of buiiing forces, and only certain of these members act for resisting movement of the coupler during the transmission of draft forces. This draft gear in the present disclosure is shown as comprising a front Wedge member 40, a rear wedge member 42, and an intermediate wedge member 44, between the wedge members 40 and 44 of which is provided a pair of forwardly disposed friction blocks or members 46 and 48, and between the wedge blocks 44 and 42 of which is a pair of rearwardly disposedfriction blocks or members 50 and 52.

As clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the forward and rear wedge members 40 and 42 are each formed with upper and lower diagonally disposed wedge shaped grooves 54 and 56 providing friction surfaces, such as 58, which are diagonally disposed in a plurality of planes and are adapted to cooperate with similar diagonally disposed friction surfaces, such as 60, of the up per and lower friction blocks 46 and 50, and 48 and 52, respectively.

Referring 'to Figures 4 and 5, it will be clearly seen that the front or forward wedge member 40 is formed with overhanging portions 41, while the rear wedge member is similarly provided with lugs or flanges 43 whereby these members are slidably supported on the straps of the yoke 2-2. Further, the wedge members are adapted to rest upon the carry-irons or cross plates 96 and 97,

which may be secured to the sills 2 and 4 in, a y

desired manner, one of these wedge members further cooperating with a cross plate, as will be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

The intermediate wedge block 44 is of 'a construction similar to the wedge blocks 40 and 42 and is similarly provided with friction surfaces, such as the surfaces 58, adapted to cooperate with corresponding or complementary friction surfaces provided on the upper and lower friction members 46 and 50, and 48 and 52, respectively. Each pair of friction blocks, such as 46 and 48, is resiliently held against movement away from each other by means of a coil spring assembly 62 which includes the outer coil spring 64 and the inner coil spring 66, these coil springs being supported upon a plate 68 mounted upon a nut 70 of a bolt 72 which passes upwardly through suitable openings provided in these friction members and has its head 74 seating with shoulders provided in the recess 76 formed in the upper friction block 46. The upper ends of these coil springs seat in a recess 78 provided in the lower part of the friction block 48.

The central or intermediate wedge member 44 is provided with a central slot or opening 80 adapted to receive a transversely disposed key 82 which extends through openings, such as 84, provided in the straps 32 and 34 of the yoke 22, the outer ends of this key member 82 being supported on the cheek plates 12 and 14 by the laterally disposed flanges 86 and 88 defining slots for movement of this key member 82.

As clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the coupler stem is normally in contacting engagement with the forward wedge member 40. When the coupler is moved rearwardly in buff, as more clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, movement of the coupler stem 10 causes a movement of the forward wedge member 40 in a rearward direction. This movement of the forward wedge member 40 causes movement of the friction blocks 46 and 48 away from one another, which. is normally resisted by a coil spring assembly 62. Movement of the friction blocks or members 46 and 48 causes a subsequent operation of the wedge block 44 toward the rear wedge block 42 which is normally in contacting engagement with the rear end 90 of the yoke 22,

thus causing movement of the friction blocks 50 and 52 away from one another which is resisted by the coil spring assembly 62. As shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, the friction elements of the draft gear of the present embodiment are fully compressed under the movement of the coupler stem 10, the frontand rear spring assemblies 62 being compressed practically solid, and the rear end. 90 of the yoke 22 being in engagement with the back stop 24. When the friction elements of the draft gear are in this position, the same have acted to their full capacity to allow movement of the coupler stem 10 corresponding with thedistance designated as A.

As more clearly shown in Figures 6 and .7 of the drawings, the coupler is in full pulling position, and when in this position, the rear end thereof has moved away and forwardly of the front wedge member 40. Upon such movement, the key 28 is engaged by the end wall of the slot 26 of the coupler stem, and this key member in turn engages with the forward end of the slots30 of the yoke 22 for causing a forward movement of the same.

During the movement of the yoke 22, the rear wedge member 42 is caused to be moved in a forward direction to separate the friction blocks However, the forward movement of this intermediate wedge member 44 is limited by the engagement of the transversely disposed key 82 supporting this wedge member with the forward end of the slots in the cheek plates 12 and 14. Under these conditions, it will be quite apparent that only certain of the friction members of the draft gear of the present embodiment, i. e. friction blocks 50 and 52, act for resisting the forward movement of the coupler during the transmission of draft forces. The movement of the yoke,-therefore, is limited in a forward direction to a distance designated as B.

During the forward movement of the coupler stem 10, the forward wedge member 40 is limited in its forward movement by means of upper stops 92 engaging the wedge member 40, and a lower stop 94 formed on the wedge member 40 and cooperating with the support plate 96. Further, over-solid blows upon the springs are prevented by stops, such as 98, provided on the front, center and rear wedge members which cooperate with shoulders, such as 100, on the upper and lower friction members 46, 50 and 48, 52, respectively, to limit the travel of these friction blocks.

Key slots 102 are provided in the cheek plates 12 and 14 to accommodate the second key of a standard single travel Farlow attachment wherein a follower is placed directly in the back of the coupler butt and retained by a key. When the draft gear of the present disclosure is in use, these key slots are of no immediate value, although the same are incorporated, as indicated, in order to provide an arrangement which may be used interchangeably with a draft gear of the present type, or a standard single travel Farlow draft gear as above set out.

With this type of gear in which the spring assemblies 62 extend below the friction elements,

more space is available for these friction elements or members, thereby permitting more generous bearing areas on the friction surfaces thereof. Higher capacity springs may also be used than if springs were placed entirely within the gear proper. It will be clearly seen that the friction surfaces are subject to wear and that such wear will result in releasing the tension on the spring assemblies. Such wear and resultant releasing of spring tension may be easily detected and remedied due to the accessibility of the gear and because of the fact that the same is open for inspection without dismantling.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim: 1. In a draft appliance, the combination of center sills having oppositely disposed slots, a

horizontal plane yoke therebetween, a draft gear embraced by said yoke, said draft gear including front and rear wedge blocks having friction surfaces and an intermediate wedge block having front and rear friction surfaces, said front and rear wedge blocks having portions engaging the straps of said yoke for support thereof, upper and lower friction blocks disposed between said front and intermediate and between said intermediate and rear wedge blocks, a key member friction blocks for resisting movement of said passing through said intermediate wedge block and slots for support of the same on said sills, and means associated with said upper and lower wedge and friction blocks, said key member being normally spaced from the rear end of said slots to permit cooperation of all of said blocks to resist buffing forces upon rearward movement of said front wedge block and normally engaging with the front end of saidslots to limit forward movement of said intermediate wedge block whereby the same and the blocksto the. rear thereof only cooperate to resist draft forces upon forward movement of said yoke.

2. In a draft appliance, the combination of center sills having oppositely disposed slots, a horizontal plane yoke therebetween, a draft gear embraced by said yoke, said draft gear including front and rear wedge blocks having friction surfaces and an intermediate wedge block having i front and rear friction surfaces, said front and rear wedge blocks having portions engaging the straps of said yoke for support thereof, upper and lower friction blocks disposed between said front and intermediate and between said intermediateand rear wedge blocks, a key member passing through said intermediate wedge block and slots for support of the same on said sills, and means associated with said upper and lower friction blocks for resisting movement of said wedge and friction blocks, said yoke having slots disposed to receive said key member to permit independent relative movement of said yoke and intermediate wedge block, said key member being normally spaced from the rear end of said slots to permit cooperation of all of said blocks to resist buffing forces uponrearward movement of said front wedge block and normally engaging with the front end of said slots to limit forward movement of said intermediate wedge block 115 whereby the same and the blocks to'the rear thereof only cooperate to resist draft forces upon forward movement of said yoke.

3. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft sills, a backstop casting, a yoke between said sills and normally abutting said backstop, a draft, gear embraced by said yoke, said draft gear including a front wedge member having a rearwardly disposed friction surface and a rear wedge member engaging said yoke and having a forwardly disposed friction surface an intermediate wedge member having forwardly and rearwardly disposed friction surfaces in opposite relation to the friction surfaces of said front and rear wedge members, and friction blocks between said front and intermediate and between said intermediate and rear wedge members and cooperating with the sameupon rearward movement of said front wedge member 'for absorbing buffing forces, and means normally cooperating with said intermediate wedge members and sills for preventing forward movement of said intermediate wedge member whereby the friction blocks between said intermediate and rear wedge members only cooperate therewith for absorbing draft forces upon forward movement of said yoke.

4. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft sills having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting, a yoke between said sills and normally abutting said backstop, a draft gear embraced by said yoke, said draft gear including a front wedge member and a rear wedge member engaging said yoke and an intermediate wedge member, friction blocks between said front and intermediate and intermediate and rear Wedge members and cooperating therewith to absorb buffing forces upon rearward movement of said front wedge member, and a key member extending through said intermediate wedge member for slidably supporting the same on said sills, said key normally being in spaced relation to the rear end of said slots to permit operation of said gear in buff and normally engaging the front end of said slots to limit forward movement of said intermediate wedge member whereby the sarne and thefriction member and blocks to the rear thereof only cooperate to absorb draft forces upon forward movement of said yoke.

5. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft sills having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting, a horizontal plane yoke disposed between said sillsand having longitudinal slotted spaced straps'connected by an end portion normally abutting said backstop, a draft gear disposed between said straps and including a. rear wedge member abutting the end portion of said yoke and movable front and intermediate wedge members, upper and lower friction blocks between said front and intermediate and intermediate and rear wedge members, vertically disposed coil spring assemblies associated with said friction blocks for resisting movement of said wedge members and friction blocks, said front and rear wedge members having portions overhanging andengaging the straps of said yoke for support of the same thereon, and a key member passing through said intermediate wedge member and-the slots of said yoke and sills for support thereof, said key being normally spaced from the rear end of said slots to permit cooperation of all of said blocks and members to resist bufiing forces upon rearward movement of said front wedge member and normally in engaging relation with the front end of said slots to limit forward movement of said intermediate wedge block whereby the same.

and the wedge member and friction blocks to the rear thereof only cooperate to resist draft forces upon forward movement of said yoke.

6. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft sills having oppositely disposed slots,

a backstop casting, a yoke between said sills and normally abutting said backstop, a draft gear embraced by said yoke, said draft gear including a front wedge member and a rear wedge member engaging said yoke and'an intermediate wedge member, upper and lower friction blocks between said front and intermediate and between said intermediate and rear wedge members, vertically disposed coil spring assemblies associated with said friction blocks whereby said blocks and spring assemblies resist movement of said wedge members, and a key member extending through 'said intermediate wedge member for slidably supporting the same on said sills, said key normally being in spaced relation to the rear end of said slots to permit operation of said gear in buff and normally engaging the front end of said slots to limit forward movement of said intermediate wedge member whereby the same and the friction member and blocks to the rear thereof only cooperate to absorb draft forces upon forward movement of said yoke.

'7. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draft sills having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting, a yoke between said sills and normally abutting said backstop, a draft gear embraced by said yoke, said draft gear including a front wedge member and a rear wedge members and cooperating therewith to absorb bufimg forces upon rearward movement of said front wedge member, and a key member extending through said intermediate'wedge member for slidably supporting the same on said sills, said key normally being inspaced relation to the rear end of said slots to permit operation of said gear in buff and normally engaging the front end of said slots to limit forward movement of said intermediate wedge member whereby the same and the friction member and blocks to the rear thereof only cooperate to absorb draft forces upon forward movement of said yoke.

8. In a draft appliance, the combination of spaced draftsills having oppositely disposed slots, a backstop casting, a yoke between said sills and normally abutting said backstop, a draft gear embraced by said yoke, said draft gear including a front wedge member and a rear wedge member engaging said yoke and an intermediate wedge member, said front and rear wedge blocks having portions engaging said yoke for support thereof,

upper and lower friction blocks between said front and intermediate and between said intermediate and rear wedge members, vertically disposed coil spring assemblies associated with said friction blocks whereby said blocks and spring assemblies resist movement of said wedge members, and a key member extending through said intermediate wedge member for slidably supporting the same on said sills, said key normally being in spaced relation to the rear end of said slots to permit operation of said gear in buff and normally engaging the front end of said slots to limit forward movement of said intermediate wedge member member engaging said yoke and an intermediate 1590 

